To avoid arousing Fenrir Greyback's suspicion, Remus Lupin quickly left after giving Jon a few final instructions.
Dispelling the Disillusionment Charm, Jon reappeared among the crowd and casually looked toward the distant forest.
"What's going on?" Sandru leaned in beside him and whispered.
Jon subtly flicked the wand hidden in his sleeve, casting a Muffliato Charm around them. He then briefly relayed everything Lupin had just told him.
"The vampires' curse has been lifted… they'll reappear tonight?" Sandru stammered. "Damn it… should I head back to Krujë and call for reinforcements?"
"No. It's too late," Jon said grimly, shaking his head.
Even if Sandru rushed back from Transylvania to Krujë at top speed, it would still take ten hours. Factoring in the round trip and the time needed for the giant eagles to arrive, the vampires would already be long gone.
First, they had to prevent the vampires from feeding once night fell. Otherwise, as Lupin had warned, once they drank human blood and regained their strength, the situation would spiral completely out of control. That meant finding a way to drive the tourists away from Dracula Castle.
Second, they would need to lure both the vampires and the werewolves into open ground—only then would there be a chance to deal with them.
"Sandru, listen carefully," Jon said, turning to him with a grave expression. "There's something I need your help with."
"Say the word, Mr. Patrick. I'm listening," Sandru replied, nodding.
Jon opened his suitcase and took out several crystal vials.
…
Time passed, second by second.
The sun was already sinking toward the horizon. Less than fifteen minutes remained before night fully fell.
Fenrir Greyback could feel success drawing just as close.
Dracula Castle had stood for centuries, and within its walls were countless secret chambers. Some of them required magic to open and were completely inaccessible to Muggles. Hidden tunnels connected these chambers to the outside world.
Although the Transylvanian vampires had been unable to roam freely due to the curse, those underground passages had never disappeared.
Over the past few hours, Greyback and more than a dozen werewolves had forced open one such tunnel, linking the sewer where the vampires dwelled to one of the castle's hidden chambers.
At the same time, he stationed trusted subordinates around the castle to guard against any unexpected developments.
Even though there was still nearly a quarter of an hour before nightfall, Countess Ilyana Dracula could no longer restrain herself and had already led her vampires into the secret chamber.
"You're early," Fenrir Greyback snorted coldly.
"That's no problem," Ilyana replied with a sweet smile. "We can wait here for a bit. My kin are already quite eager."
"Jorman, bring her the prize we just caught," Greyback said, turning away as he gave the order. "Miss Ilyana must be starving."
Just minutes earlier, a passing Muggle had noticed their suspicious behavior and quietly followed them. To avoid exposure, the werewolves had simply knocked him unconscious and dragged him into the chamber.
The werewolf named Jorman tossed the unconscious Muggle onto the floor at Ilyana's feet.
"My sincere thanks for your generosity, Lord Greyback…" the vampire countess said, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
She lunged at the Muggle's neck, lips curling back to reveal two sharp fangs, and then bit down hard.
The Muggle jolted awake with a shrill scream, thrashing wildly. But the vampire's long limbs wrapped around him, holding him fast and preventing any escape.
Blood seeped from the wound in his neck.
His screams weakened, his breathing grew faint, and death rapidly closed in. Before long, he lay still—a pale corpse.
Ilyana Dracula wiped the lingering blood from the corner of her mouth. Her fangs slowly retracted, and a look of deep satisfaction spread across her face.
"Fresh human blood… after fifty long years… I can finally taste this delicacy again. The sensation is simply wonderful."
Behind her, the gaunt vampires stirred restlessly, their hunger barely contained.
"Idiots! It's not dark yet!" Fenrir Greyback barked angrily. "What's the hurry? Ten more minutes is all it takes. Fifteen minutes from now, you'll be free to go out and enjoy your bloody feast!"
"You're absolutely right," Countess Ilyana said with a smile. "My kin, obey Lord Greyback's command."
In less than a minute, the wrinkles and swelling on her face vanished entirely, and her features seemed even more beautiful than before. Aside from her slightly dirty and disheveled dress, she looked no different from a lovely princess—provided one ignored the blood still staining her teeth.
The vampires gradually calmed down, all of them staring impatiently at the large clock on the wall as they counted down the time.
Each of them imagined the coming slaughter—the thrill of drinking human blood to their heart's content. Some even fantasized about seizing a handsome young man or a beautiful girl afterward, dragging them somewhere quiet, and performing the Embrace to create a new member of their kind.
The bloody revelry felt as though it was just within reach.
…
"Fenrir!"
The door to the secret chamber burst open as a werewolf rushed in, reporting in a low voice.
"Gene Crewe returned about twenty minutes ago!"
"Gene… that bastard actually knows how to come back," Fenrir Greyback snarled at the mention of the name. "Where is he? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
"He said he'd be here shortly," the werewolf replied. "He thinks the castle is beautiful and wanted to look around first."
"Then he'd better hurry," Greyback said, a savage smile curling across his face. "It would be a shame if he missed the feast."
He glanced down at the watch on his wrist.
Five minutes remained.
"And… there's something else," the werewolf added hesitantly.
Before he could continue, Fenrir Greyback's ears twitched, and his expression shifted.
"Why is it so noisy outside?" he frowned. "What's going on?"
As he spoke, he roughly climbed a short flight of steps, carefully pushed open a skylight in the ceiling of the secret chamber, and stuck his head out to look.